The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-05-28
PETER NEVIS REMAINS.
TExehange.l

per says: several phNSlcMns or tne Salisbury section some time since de- cided to exhume the remains of Peter :. Nev from their grave near this place for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are those of the famous Marshal Ney of France, who conn manded the old Guard at Waterloo. Of all the ronlances which have had their inception in North Carolina, this is one of the greatest. In lSl6 Ney appeared in this state. He was sin- gular man, and from the very first attracted attention, although he used all possible means to avoid publicity. He taught school in lredell and Rowan counties, and among his pupils were men who afterward became promi- nent. Certain facts were ascertained about this singular man which fixed the belief in the neighborhood that he was really Marshal Ney, in spite of the historical fact that Ney was duly shot in Paris. For years the matter has been discussed. not only here, but in all parts of the country and abroad. Dr. Lyman Draper, president of the Wisconsin Historical Society, has taken deep interest in the matter. and in the past two years great deal has been written on the subject. At the special request of Dr. Draper, some of the most prominent physicians of Salisbury agreed to exhumc the body and to make careful examination of the skull. Marshal News skull was trephined, and if this skull was found to have been singularly operated upon, it would be practically exclusive proof.
 Among the pieces of evidence to aid the assertion made by many here that Marshal Ney was this school teacher was this:
 X Frenchman from an adjoining county who had been soldier under Marshal Ncy and afterwanl moved to America. was at q public gathering in Statesville one day and recognized the school-teacher as his old commander He threw up his hands and exclaimed i; " Noa Dieu.' Marshal Ney '" With out demonstration, Ney called his name, and with his right hand waved him of, placing the index finger over his mouth, indicating silence. Both men soon left the crowd and were afterwards seen in private conference.
 Four days after the battle of Wa terloo Marshal Ney. in a speech before the peers. advised treaty of peace. and there publicly announced his de- termination to go to America. thus showing his attention was turned toward this country.
 4 gentleman who nursed Peter Ney and was with him in death and at his burial said to-day that Ney was perfectly conscious at the time and that he talked about his wife and children, and stated several times while on his deathbel that he was Marshal Ney, aud repeated it not an hour before his death. In dressing him for burial he found that Ney had been wounded in the thigh. neck, side and wrist, and had q large scar, like n sabre cut, OH the head.
 After consultation, this day was de- cided upon for the exhumation, and at an early hour the citizens of the surrounding country and neighboring towns began to come in. and soon Il large crowd had gathered around the quiet little country church. In the assemblage were many of Ney's pu- pils, these being old men now, their ages ranging from sixty to seventy five years.
 At one o'clock the physicians in charge announced that they had no pecuniary interest in the matter. and that the exhumation was merely in the interest of history. When the grave was opened nothing was found except few of the largest bones. some coffin nails and small remnant of one plank. The gentleman in charge made the following report:
 "The undersigned physicians wish to state that, according to previous notice, We did to-day cause to bc ex- humed the remains of Peter :. Nev, in the presence of 6 great many wit nesses, some of them from Washing ton, D. C., Raleigh, x. C.. and other parts of the country. We found some of the bones only. and these in state of such decay that we cannot state positively whether the skull had ever been trephined or not We made dil- igent search for the bullets said to have been lodged in the body, but found nofIe
 We succeeded % far, however, as to ascertain that the skeleton was about five feet and ten inches long, and the skull, around above the eyes. about twenty four inches in circum- ference"
 This statement was signed by nine of the most prominent physicians in this section. The skull measured seven and three fourth inches across